Hand brake for railway cars



March 9 1926.

J. F. OCONNOR 'HAND BRAKE FOR RAILWAY GARS Filed April 5, 1924 PatentedMar.y 9, 1926.

vUNITED STATES lPATENT GFFICE.

JOHN r. ooonnon, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, assrsnon, BY'MnsNn AssrofNMnNrs,rro

W. n. Minen, rnc., A CORPORATION on DELAWARE.

HAND BRAKE FOR-RAILWAY CARS.

Application filed April 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOI-IN F. OCONNOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and use'lul Improvement in Hand Brakes forRailway Cars, ot' which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in hand brakes for railway cars.

In the operation of hand brakes of the vertical stattl type for railwaycars, diticulty has been experienced heretofore due to the binding ofthe staff ywhen released.l Binding of the staff is frequently caused bythe bulging of the end wall of the car or by bending of the Staff, withthe result that even though the brake is released in the usual manner,the chainl will not become fully slack, thereby permitting the brakeshoes to remain in contact with the wheels.

One Object of my invention is to provideJ an arrangement especiallyadapted for hand. brakes of railway cars, wherein provision is made forpositively insuring the tull and complete release of the hand brak-emechanisin, to the end that the brake shoes may be freely disengagedfrom the wheelsfto minimize wear therebetween and reducel the tractiveeiiort required of the locomotive.

Other objects and advantagesot my invention will more clearly appearfrom the description and claims hereinafter follow-V ing.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is avertical sectional view taken through the end wall oi' the car andshowing my improvements in connection therewith. sectional view of thestructure lillustrated in Figure 1 and corresponding to thel sectionline 2--2 thereof. Figure 3 a plan view of the Aclutch face of theslidablc clutch member. Figure 4 is a -fragmentary vertical sectionalview oit a modiied form of device. And Figure 5 is a horizontalsectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In said drawing, the end wall of the car is indicated at 10, and ahousing or bearing bracket designated generally by the referencecharactre. is secured thereto;v Said .handle or lever 27.

Figure 2 is a horizontal 1924. Serial No. 703,903.l

bracket is provided with a rear wall 11 riveted or otherwise rigidlysecured to the car wall 10 by means of rivets 12, said bracket alsohaving a bottom web or wall 13 extending horizontally and provided witha `journal bearing 14, an intermediate web or partition 15 extendinghorizontally', above the web 13, and vertical flanges 16 and 17connected toward their front end by a rounded portion 18. A cap or coverplate 19 is also employed and is preferably secured to the main portionof the bracket casting A by the kbolt 34, hereinafter referred to. i

A portion Ot the usual vertical brake stall is indicated at 20, the samebeing squared or ot' other non-circular cross section at the a ratchetwheel B. The ratchet wheel B is provided with an upper and a lower setof ratchet teeth 21 and 22, respectively, the lower and upper ends ofthe ratchet being provided with journals 23 and 24, respectively, thelower journal rotating in the bearing 14.

Y Oscillatably mounted on the journal bearing 24 is a carrier or fulcrummember designated generally by the reference character C. Said carrier Chas a substantially annular depending flange. 24 ronrwhich. are.extended lateral wings 25-25. Pivotally mounted between thefwings 25 ona horizontal pivot bolt 26 is an operating The handle 27 is provided atthe top end thereof with av longitudinally extending socket 28, within.which is slidably mounted a pawl 29 normally impelled outwardly bymeansfot' a spring 30. The arrangement of the handle and pawl isL suchlthat when the handle is elevated to a horizontal position, the pawl isoperatively engaged with the teeth 21. of the ratchet wheel B and whenthe handle is released, it automatically falls to avdepending vertical,inoperative position as shown in Figure l. With this arrangement, it isevident that the statt may be rotatedV in aV winding direction withastep by stepmovement in fthe usual manner.

To holdv the stall, against accidental reverse rotation, I preferablyemploy the :tollowing means: A dog 31 is oscillatably mounted betweenthe' webs 13 and 15 so as to coactjvith the teeth. of the ratcliet wheelIB@ This .flog has' teeth at its' top thereof and yon which isrigidly/fitted late in unison.

to coaetwvitlrthev ratchet teeth andis provided with a handle or leverextension 33 at its other end whereby the toothV 32 may-be manuallyldisengaged `from the ratchetl wheel. A. vertically extending bolt 34rispositioned through the bracket, and a bushing or sleeve 35 is mounted onsaid bolt, Asaid bushing having its exterior of square or othernon-circular cross section and yfitting into a cooperating recess in thedog 31, so that the sleeve and dog will rotate or oscil- The upperportion of the sleeve 35 is provided with an enlarged por tion havingclutch teeth 36 on its upper tace, said enlarged portion resting on theupper surface of the web 15 oit the bracket. A clutch member 37 isarranged to slide vertically uponthe bolt 34., said member having clutchteeth 3S at its lower end, adapted to coact with the clutch teeth 36 otthe sleeve member and is also provided vwith a non-circular portion atits upper end,I the latter portion being slidable vertically7 butnon-rotatable in a cooperating guide Zl() formed integral ,with thebracket as shon'n.

.A spring t1. normally7 presses the clutch member 3T downwardly/,and aspring 1211ermally .presses the tooth 32 of the dog into engagement withthe ratchet teeth22 ot the ratchet Wheel. A cam 13' is carried by thedepending wall 211 of the carrier member so as to proyectradiallytherefrom, said cam "beingengageable with the portion 39- of the clutchmember 37 to lift the clutch member 37 from the'clntehteeth 36 ot" thesleeve when the carrier member is oscillated to- Ward itsstarting`position for Winding the chain.

A[Theoperation of the hand brake is asl tollows: Assumingfthatthepartsare in their.I

operative position shown in Figures 1 and 2, With the clutch-teeth 33ridingvon the liat faces ot the'clutch teeth 36*7 then when the ratchetWheel isadvanced' in -astep by step movement, lthe 'tooth 32v beingspring-finlluenced by the spring A412, Will permit this step by'st'eprmovement of the ratchet Wheel and holdvsaid ratchet Wheelagainst-reverse rotation. WlVhenit is desired to release the :dog Afromits`^holding engagement with the ratchet Wheel, -thereleaselever 33 ispulled, thereby"disengaging theftooth 32 `from the ratchet wheel`andoscillating the sleeve in unison with the idog, whereupon the spring41 will cause-thelclutch 37 to `move downwardly so thatits clutchteeth'38 mesh Vwith the' clutch.l teeth- 36 land= hold -the dogbrakechain occurs, to permit the brake shoes to become fully disengagedfrom the wheels and t-he brake chain to be fully slack.

lV hen the brakeis later apglied to again Wind the cli-ain, the brakemanelevates the handle 27 and pushes or oscillates thc same to its extremestarting position, thereby oscillating the fulcrum member or carrier Ctherewith, to cause the cam member 43 carried thereby to engage theportion 39 ot the clutch member 37, lifting the clutch teeth 38 out ofmesh with the teeth ot the sleeve 35, thereby permitting the spring 12to exert its influence to press the tooth 32 ot the dog intoengagementwith the teeth 22 ot the ratchet -wheel B, thus restoring thelocking' dog and associated parts to their normal op-- erative position.ln this tonnecton, it will be understood that the area et contact ot theflat portions ot the clutch teeth 36 and 3 is of suliicient extent, whenthe parts are in normal operating position Vto prevent the clutch teeth3S from falling into engagement with the teeth 33 vvhile the dog 31ratchcts over the teeth of the ratchet wheel l.

In the term shown in Figures Ll and A indicates the bracket, B theratchet wheel, and C the 'tulcrum member or carrier member for theoperating handle. The

holding dog` 131 is pivotally mounted upon the vertical bolt 134 carriedby the bracket A, the inner end 'of vthe holding dog being provided Witha tooth 132 adapted to coact with the teeth et the ratchet Wheel B. Therelease handle 133 is connected to the holding dog'131 so that when therelease handle is pulled, the tooth of the dog Will be disengagedfromthe ratchet teeth. Clutch teeth 136 are provided on the upper faceol the hub ottheholding'dog,rsaid dog being tree torotate upon thebolt134 as shown. Nash^- ers 141-5 maybe interposed between the hub ol' thedogand thebottom ot the bracket, il: desired, ysaid Washers beingmounted upon the bolt 131. `A. clutch member 137 is non-rotatably butverticallyslidably mounted upon the bolt 1311-, the bracket A beingprovided with a guide 140 to prevent rot-ation oli the clutch member 137but permit the vertical sliding thereof. A spring 1111 may be interposedbetween the top of the bracket and the clutch 137 to yieldinglyy pressthe same don'nn'ztrdly, said clutch having clutch teeth 133 on its lowerface, adapted to mesh and coact vvith the cooperating clutch. teeth 136o1" the dog. In this modllication, the spring `corresponding to thespring- 42 ot the previous vmodilication is unnecessary as the shape ofthe clutch teeth 138 and 136 is such as to 'exert a camming action andthe dog` is normally urged into engagement vvith the teeth of theratchetwvheel B. 'lhe ratchet Wheel may be rotated in a step by stepmovement and as the'tooth 132 is moved outwardly'by the'ratchet Wheel Ba distance Elli 141 to permit otl this stepby step movement.

Then it is desired to release the dog from its holding engagement withthe vratchet vwheel, the' release `handle 133 is pulled,

thereby camming the clutch member 137 upwardly so that its clutch teethride on the top faces of the clutch teeth 136 and frictionally hold thedog against reengagement with theteeth ot the ratchet wheel B.

A lng or projection 144 is carried by the clutch portion 136 of thedog,'as shown in Figures 4 and A5 and a` portion of the periphery of thecarrier member C is recessed or cut back to form a groove 142, the endsof the cut back portions forming shoulders 146. When the release handle133 is pulled to release the tooth 132 of the dog from the ratchet wheelB', the projection 144 carried by the dog will remain in the positionshown in dotted lines in Figure 5, while the dog is being held inreleased position. Then it is desired to wind t'he brake stati;l again,the operating handle is litted to its operative position and is thenswung to one extreme position, causing the carrier mem` ber C tooscillate, during which oscillation the shoulder 146 engages withtheprojection 144 to oscillate the paivl relatively to the non-rotatableclutch member 137 so that the teeth 136 and 138 yare in mesh to permit ithe step by step movement ot the ratchet wheel B. Y

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner ot carrying out the invention but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modi tications that come within thescope ot the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a hand brake, the combination with a. rotatable ratchet wheel; ofmeans torrotating said wheel in a chain-winding direction; a releaselever; a locking dog integral with said lever and cooperable with saidratchet wheel to hold the same against rotation in a reverse directionand adapted to be actuated by said level' to an inoperative position;and spring-influenced means autoiiiatically operable to hold said dog inits inoperative position out of engagement with said ratchet wheel, saidmeans being arranged to have cert-ain relative movement to permit normalratcheting ot said dog with-- out locking the same.

In -a hand brake, the combination with a vertical sta'lli1 and a ratchetwheel rotatable therewith; ot' means for rotating said stati' in awinding direction; a release lever; a locking dog` integral with saidlever and cooperable with said ratchet wheel to hold the same againstrotation vin a reverse direction `and adapted to be actuated to aninoi'ierative position by said release lever; and clutch .meansnon-rotatable with said' dog and automatically coacting therewith tohold the latter in its inoperative position out of engagement with saidratchet wheel'whcn the release lever is actuated, said clutch ,meansbeing'arranged to have relative `movement therebetween to permit normalratcheting ot'` said dog without` actuation of said holding means. i Y

3. In a hand brake, the combination with a rotatable ratchet wheel; otmeans for rotating said stati:1 in a step by step movement;

a release lever; a locking dog operably connected to said lever to movein unison therewith and hold the ratchet wheel 'against rotation in areverse direction; a clutch member movable in unison with said dog andprovided with clutch teeth; a clutch member non-rotatably but verticallymovable into engagement with said first-mentioned clutch teeth to holdsaid dog in its inoperative position out ot' engagement with saidratchet wheel, the teeth of said clutch members being arranged to havecertain relative movement to permit normal ratcheting of said dog; andmeans for automatically actuating said clutch member.

4. In a hand brake, the combination with a rotatable ratchet, wheel; otmeans tor rotating said stati; a release lever; a locking dog cooperablewith said ratchet wheel to hold the same against rotation in a reversedirection and adapted to be actuated by said lever to an inoperativeposition; a clutch element associated with said dog and actuatedthereby; a spring-influenced clutch member non-rotatable but' verticallymovable into bearing engagement with said clutch element and arranged topermit relative movement between said clutch member and clutch elementto permit normal ratcheting of said dog, said clutch member and elementbeing operable to hold said dog in its inoperative position ont otengagement with said ratchet wheel lwhen the release lever is actuated;and means carried by said rotating means to release the dog holdingmeans.

5. In a hand brake, the combination with a ratchet wheel; of means forrotating said stati' in a step by step movement in a chainwindingdirection; a ulcrum member `for said mea-ns; a release lever; a lockingdog cooperable with said ratchet wheel vto hold the same againstrotationin a reverse direction and adapted to be actuated by said release leverin unison therewith to an inoperative position; a clutch part carried bysaid dog; a spring-influenced clutch member arranged above said clutchpart and non-rotatable but vertically movable to coact therewith to holdthe dog in its inoperative position out ot engagement with said ratchetwheel, said clutch member and clutch part being capable of limitedrelative movement to permit ratchetmg` of said dog` Without locking thesame r1n inoperative position;

yand means on said carrier to engage said clutch member to release saiddog so that itmay reengage said ratchet teeth.

G. In a hand brake for railway cars, the

combination with a rotatable member adapt ed to eeet tightening ot' thebrake chain and rotated in yone direction, said member having' a ratchetWheel rotatable in runison therewith;v of means for effecting step byvstep* rotation of said memberin a chain ,day of April 1924.

operative position; a clutch clement immovably associatcdwith said dog`and partaking of its movements; a second clutch element arranged toco-operate withA said lirst named clutch element, said second clutchelement being movable ina direction toward and from the first namedclutch element and normally influenced toward the first named clutchelement, co-operating to prevent return ofthe dog to operative relationwith respect to the ratchet Wheel When said dog has been manuallyactuated to full release position.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 1st JOHN r. oooNNon.

